per received his injury, Captain Murdock placed the facts before the police on his arrival at Sydney, in order that any suspicion of his having been concerned in the fate of Earle might be removed. The police made a careful investigation, and after questioning the second mate, who was on the bridge at the time, and other members of the crew, they arrived at the conclusion that no blame whatever was attached to Captain Murdock.'"
Joan had listened eagerly, her lips parted, her face blanched.
"Well?" she said almost in a whisper. The name Murdock still rang in her ears sometimes, as she recalled the terrible unconscious utterances of the fever-stricken patient.
"Well?" repeated Chester, no less moved, for though he had always been strongly drawn to this man who had sprung out of the sea, he had wondered vaguely what dark secret lay behind the sailor's sudden departure from his vessel—a departure which he had ever been singularly reluctant to discuss.
"Nothing much," said Keith, picking up his pipe again and lighting it. "Only that lets me out. I'm Earle, you see, and—I thought I'd killed him."
"Murdered him, do you mean?" said Chester with a frown.
Keith shook his head.
"No, it wasn't as bad as that, though I'm afraid
